The Founders Inn and Spa

Expansive Georgian Resort with Colonial Period Decor

With its orderly rows of windows and symmetrical chimneys, the stately exterior of The Founders Inn and Spa is an homage to Georgian architecture, a style named after the four Georges who ruled England during the 18th century. But the resort's interior pays tribute to one of the biggest thorns in the side of the third King George—colonial America. Oil paintings of the Founding Fathers peer out from gilded frames, and colonial-era furnishings sit around roaring fireplaces. The hotel is on the grounds of and owned by Regent University, a Christian school founded in 1978.

The historical theme extends to guest accommodations, where you’ll find traditional furnishings and colonial-style bedding and decor. Some rooms overlook the carefully manicured english gardens.

Bacon-wrapped Virginia beef, pork belly with local peaches, and other dishes can be sampled at the award-winning Swan Terrace Restaurant, one of two onsite eateries. In the morning, the same space holds a breakfast smorgasbord on linen-draped tables stretching outside onto the brick-inlay terrace.

Hampton Roads, Virginia: Naval Center near Virginia Beach

The inn is located on the outskirts of Regent University in an area noted for its proud naval history and proximity to the Atlantic. Just north of the inn, the Naval Station Norfolk's piers and aircraft hangars form one of the world’s largest naval complexes. Navy personnel lead guided bus tours and harbor cruises, narrating details of the station's battleships, submarines, and elite squadrons of rubber duckies.

To the east, the 3-mile Virginia Beach boardwalk meanders past public statuary, grassy park areas, and a fishing pier. Throughout the year, visitors take advantage of the boardwalk’s bike lane and walking path.